FAQs
- How do I budget for Architectural Concrete Work?
- What is concrete staining?
- What are the differences: natural stone, stamped concrete, pavers?
- What’s best for basements, lofts and garage floors?
- What kind of maintenance does architectural concrete work require?
1. How do I budget for Architectural Concrete Work?
Budgeting should include design, installation, a simple drawing and written maintenance requirements for the decorated space. Concrete Studio guidelines for general estimating are as follows:
Stamping: New concrete or stampable overlay - $8 to $11/square foot. Price does not include grading or concrete pumping if required.
Kemiko Acid Staining or Dye Staining: $2 to $8/ square foot depending on total surface area, preparation requirements (such as paint, mastic or thin-set removal), sealer system chosen.
Resurfacing: $2 -$3.50/square foot.
Coatings:
- 100% solids epoxy - $2.75/square foot.
- Epoxy with one coat of 100% solids urethane - $3.50/square ft.
- Same as above but with two coats of acrylic floor finish - $$4.10/square foot.
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2. What is concrete staining?
Concrete can be stained permanently with acid etch stains and dyes. Colors typically are semi-transparent whereas you can see the concrete surface below. Staining services can include saw cuts or scoring to give you the look of tile but can also include engraving or stenciling of graphical design elements onto the surface. Dyes allow greater design flexibility and are just as durable as acid stains.
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3. What are the differences: natural stone, stamped concrete, pavers?
Stone is usually set in mortar. Mortar is porous and will almost always crack and flake off in pieces because of water infiltration and freeze-thaw cycles. Stone can be porous and mildews easily and is difficult to clean.
Pavers are usually set in compactable crushed stone and sand base. This base is often seen sinking or bulging because of freeze thaw and or improper installation. The paver itself is extremely durable concrete but it is very difficult to clean without blowing out the sand that holds this system in place.
Stamped Concrete is a solid slab that rarely shifts after placing. Broadcast color, often used with stamped concrete makes the surface extremely hard and reduces porosity and improves the wear characteristics of concrete. Once sealed, the stamped concrete surface retards mildew formation and is easy to maintain. Concrete can and does crack. Therefore, stamped concrete should be scored every eight to ten feet to accommodate for contraction of the slab so that cracks form below the scored areas and do not become visible.
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4. What’s best for basements, lofts and garage floors?
Basements and lofts look great with professionally installed concrete stained systems. Stained concrete can get wet, even soaked, without damage. Concrete Studio’s stained floors do not support mildew growth and are child and animal resistant. Garage floors take uncommon abuse. Hot tires and auto fluids can stain and mess up the appearance and storage potential of the garage area. Grease, oil and dust are often tracked in from this area. Concrete Studio’s gorgeous high-end solution is Lifetime Quartz FloorTM. This system is a blend of commercial epoxy, colored quartz and polyurethane. Other garage systems include solvent-resistant solid color stains, semi-transparent stains and epoxy, urethane color chip systems. Concrete Studio can install any of the above.
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5. What kind of maintenance does architectural concrete work require?
Our stamped, and broom finished concrete has low porosity and cleans more easily than regular concrete, specially when sealed. Removing leaf stains or other organic stains is as simple as using a dilute water and household bleach solution followed by a hose rinse. Usually one part bleach to five parts of water is sufficient to clean the area.
Stained concrete floors can be damp mopped with a neutral cleaner such as Simple Green and water.
Garage soils are easily removed from all of Concrete Studio’s finishes. Oil and grease can be emulsified using a concentrated solution of Simple Green, followed by light scrubbing of oily area followed by a water rinse.
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